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The Philippines Holiday Hotlist

Comprising thousands of emerald islands studding the shimmering Pacific Ocean, the Philippines is equally suited to thrill seekers looking for adventure as beach-lovers seeking tranquillity. Choose to rove by foot, boat, kayak, moped or any other mode, and discover the fun that awaits amongst a backdrop of stunning landscapes, blissful beaches, and the warmth of the Filipino people.

Island Hopping in Palawan

Palawan offers more than 1,700 dreamy islands with hidden lagoons, secret beaches, mystical caves, brooding rainforests, and vibrant coral reefs. Island hopping through the scalable limescale cliffs and tropical foliage is an experience not to be missed.

Adrenaline Rush in Bicol

Think non-stop action! Active volcanoes, mountains, caves, cliffs and coral reefs make Bicol a paradise for lovers of the great outdoors. Take the plunge and go swimming with whale sharks or jump on a quad bike and discover why this region is jam packed with memories in the making.

Sea breeze in Boracay

Consistently listed as one of the best beaches in the world, Boracay is the ultimate place to get in, on and under the water. Whether you choose, parasailing, paddle boarding, snorkelling, diving or luxury yachting, the sparkle of the turquoise blue waters is just too attractive to resist.

Chocolate hills - Bohol island, Philippines

Get back to nature in Bohol

About a two-hour ferry ride from Cebu City, the island of Bohol is a complete nature retreat. Here you can do everything from swim with dolphins, trek among the iconic peaks of Chocolate Hills, get to know the adorable, wide-eyed tarsier in its natural habitat at the Tarsier Sanctuary, or scuba dive the underwater gardens of nearby Balicasag Island.

Hike through The Cordilleras

Described by some as ‘the Eighth Wonder of the World’, The Cordilleras is a great place to combine cultural discovery with outdoor activities. Those who like to get active will be lured by a hike through the rice terraces where you will pass indigenous communities living a traditional way of life.

Create your own itinerary

Explore Philippines in 14 days – from city, rice terraces, islands to UNESCO sites

Relaxing 9 Day Hideaway – Manila, Boracay and Bicol

Popular Accommodations in the Philippines

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Holiday Inn Express Manila Newport World Resorts By IHG

7.8 Good

Manila

from £58
Book Now Holiday Inn Express Manila Newport World Resorts By IHG from £58
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Belmont Hotel Manila Near Naia Terminal 3 Mnl

8.7 Very good

Manila

from £50
Book Now Belmont Hotel Manila Near Naia Terminal 3 Mnl from £50
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Bohol Beach Club

9.2 Wonderful

Panglao

from £92
Book Now Bohol Beach Club from £92
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Hilton Manila Newport World Resorts

9.0 Wonderful

Manila

from £109
Book Now Hilton Manila Newport World Resorts from £109
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Discovery Coron

8.8 Very good

Palawan

from £200
Book Now Discovery Coron from £200
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Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay

9.2 Wonderful

Boracay

from £160
Book Now Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay from £160
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The Peninsula Manila

9.2 Wonderful

Manila

from £100
Book Now The Peninsula Manila from £100
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Henann Regency Resort & Spa

8.8 Very good

Boracay

from £51
Book Now Henann Regency Resort & Spa from £51

Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila

Manila

Book Now Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila
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Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu

8.8 Very good

Cebu

from £151
Book Now Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu from £151

Know before you go

Getting to the Philippines

There are multiple flights from the UK to the Philippines. Most have convenient connections via Istanbul, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taipei to Manila. From the capital, you’ll find it’s very easy to travel to other parts of the Philippines.

Transit options are also available via cities like Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Istanbul, Singapore, Hong Kong, or Thailand with air carriers such as Qatar Airways, Etihad, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, and Cathay Pacific, etc.

Search Flights to Manila

Getting to the Philippines

You can fly direct to the Philippines from the UK departing London Heathrow (via Philippine Airlines) landing in Manila.

Flights from the UK to Manila usually take up to 13 hours. From Manila, you’ll find it’s very easy to travel to other parts of the Philippines.

Transit options are also available via cities like Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Istanbul, Singapore, Hong Kong, or Thailand with air carriers such as Qatar Airways, Etihad, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, and Cathay Pacific, etc.

Search Flights to Manila

Getting around the Islands

Travelling around the Philippines is easy! Exploring the 7,641 islands by air, land and sea is part of the adventure.

Coronavirus & Travel Safety

Due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, we advise you to keep up-to-date with the latest inbound travel information and advice. Refer to the Government Foreign Travel Advice including the current entry visa guidelines.

Weather

The climate of the Philippines is subtropical and has two seasons; the rainy season, from June to November and the dry season, from December to May.

The dry season is then further subdivided into the ‘cool dry season’ from December to February – this is the Philippines ‘winter’ and perfect for those wanting to travel in a cooler climate.The average temperature is around 22℃ to 28℃, with little precipitation and sunny and dry weather.

And the ‘hot dry season’ from March to May – this is the Philippines ‘summer’ where you can expect it to reach temperatures of about 40℃ in the midday of May.

Language

Filipino is the national language of the Philippines. However, English is widely used throughout and has become one of the official languages of the country –

so don’t be shy to start a conversation!

You will also discover regional languages as you travel the different islands and destinations.

Currency & Money Matters

The currency of the Philippines is Peso (PHP) and goes a long way when exchanging Pounds to Pesos.

Foreign currency may be exchanged at most hotels, and in most of the large department stores, banks and authorized money changing shops.

When paying a tip, 10% of the total bill is usual practice. Check to see if the bill already includes a service charge as in these cases, tipping is optional.